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Billions needed for construction of North West roads...

Taung– Premier Supra Mahumapelo says the North West Province requires a total budget of R8.6billion to deal with the province’s entire road network of 19 786 kilometers, adding that more could be needed due to damages caused by the severe rains and floods that the province has experienced over the recent weeks.

Mahumapelo said this yesterday, at Taung Sports Ground, where he was delivering his State of the Province Address during the Official Opening of the North West Provincial Legislature.

“Thedepartment of Public Works and Roads will prioritise Villages, Townships and Small Dorpies’ unpaved or gravel roads badly affected by the rains and floods. Focus will be put on strategic economic roads that connect villages to villages, villages to townships and villages to small dorpies,” said Premier Mahumapelo who told the Provincial Legislature that NgakaModiriMolema and Dr Ruth SegomotsiMompati Districts have unpaved or gravel roads in the majority.

Highlighting progress in respect of other strategic road construction projects in the province, Mahumapelo said, “While the contractor for the much awaited Nelson Mandela Highway that is linking Lichtenburg and Mafikeng is already on site, other projects that would be going on tender before the end of the first quarter of the new financial year include Lebotlwane Road, Molatedi to Derdepoort, Dudfield to Gelukspan, Setlopo – Dithakong – Mantsha to Mareetsane, Lokaleng – Mogosane – Tlapeng to Mmasutlhe, and Delareyville – Ganalaagte – Kopela to Mareetsane.

The Premier emphasised that in the spirit of “bietjie-bietjiemaakmeer”, no contractor in the Province will be allocated a road tender which is more than 20km with effect from the beginning of 17/18 Financial year.

Mahumapelo said there is a growing need for the provincial government to double its efforts to secure private sector funding for the building of roads, as it is becoming increasingly difficult to rely exclusively on public funding given the pressures on the budget.